Cylindrical washing machine and means for the progressive movement of articles therethrough



Dec. 30, 1947. TERNES 2,433,796

CYLINDRICAL WASHING MACHINE AND MEANS FOR THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT OF ARTICLES THERETHROUGH INVENTOR Filed'Jan. 31, 1944 .u..... u coouooooooooo I1. .PL 0 8 M l A M W 012: b 1 a how 8 Patented Dec. 30, 1947 MEANS FOR. THE PROGRESSIV MOVE MENT 0F ARTICLES THERETHROUGH Raymond F. Ternes, Detroit, Mich assignor to Miller Laundry Mach Mich.

inery Company, Detroit,

Application January 31, 1944', Serial No'. 520,389

2 Claims;

This invention relates to washing machines and, in particular, it relates to washing machines of the continuous type. More particularly the invention r'elatesto a cylindrical 01 barrel type washer open at both ends, in combination with means attached to the interior of the cylinder for moving laundry progressively through the cylinder as the cylinder is rotated.

Practically all of the present commercial laundry machines comprise a drum type container which is partially filled with water, loaded with laundry and rotated on its axis. It has been found that machines of this type are neither economical, nor do they wash the laundry satisfactorily; In the first place, the laundry is continually being washed in soiled water and, in the second place, there i'ssuch a bulk of laundry within the container that much of the laundry received very little individual agitation.

According to my invention, I provide a washing machine in the: form of a cylindrical container in which the laundry is loaded into'one end of the container and is discharged atthe opposite end. One or more ribs or members extend along the length of the interior of the container. These members pick up laundry lying in a. lowermost position within the container and carry the laundry into an elevated position within the container, The members are provided with corrugations or projections. These corrugations or projections extend across the width of the member and are angular-1y disposed, the angle being inclined so that the projections at the free edge of the member lie closer to the outlet end of the cylinder than the projections closer to the cylinder wall. In effect, the members attached to the cylinder constitute a chute upon which the laundry slides as it leaves the member and becomes directed toward the outlet end of the washing machine. Thus, a repeated elevating and dropping of the laundry within the container results in a progressive movement of the laundry toward the outlet end. This intermittent dropping action is carried on in combination with a spray vide a washing machine which will operate con- 2 tinuously and progressively; to provide a washingmachine in which fresh water is supplied continuously, and in which the water runs directly from the container, carrying with it the soil removed from the laundry; to provide a washing machine in which the rinsing operation is carried on progressively in the same container; to provide a washing machine of the cylindrical type which includes a rib construction which effects a combination lifting of laundry within a container with a, positive advancement of laundry through the container; and, to provide a washing machine which may be manufactured economically and operated efficiently. These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away, and in section,- of a continuous washing machine of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a rib employed in the washing machine; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a means which may be used in place of the rib.

With reference to the drawing, I show an improvement of my invention in the form of 2. cylindrical' container or sleeve 4 supported so that, its inlet end is at a lower level than its outlet end. A pair of spaced structural channels 5 and 6 circumscribing the cylinder 4 and attached thereto form, in effect, tracks cradled on two pairs of wheels 1 and 8. The wheels I are supported by brackets 9 and positioned from the floor I0 by spacers l l. In a similar manner, the wheels 8 are supported by brackets l2, and spacers l3. An electrical motor l4 operating through a reduction unit l5 and a flexible coupling l6 provides a drive for the wheel 8, To assist in retaining the cylindrical container 4 from moving axially a thrust wheel I! is provided to engage one of the legs of the structural channel 5. A bracket l8 supports a thrust wheel I! from the floor l0.

One or more ribs or members l9 attached to the inner surface of the cylinder extend throughout the length of the cylinder. These ribs have a width extending-radially of the cylinder to form a ledge or shelf so as to pick up and retain laundry, and drop' the laundry from an elevated position as the cylinder is rotated. A plurality of openings or perforations 20 extending through the base of the rib l9 permits water to flow therethrough as the cylinder is rotated. The rib l9 is of substantial width so as to form a chute upon which laundry will have an appreci ble Sliding contact upon rotation of the cylinder. Preferably, the width of the rib is equal to approximately A of the diarneter f the cylinder, or the rib should lie somewhere between A; and A; of the diameter of thecylinder. In any event, the rib should be at least 14 inches in width. The rib I9 is shaped to form corrugations 2| extending substantially crosswiseof the rib. Specifical.-.

ly, the corrugations are inclined at an angle so that the corrugation or projection at the free edge of the rib is positioned closer to the outlet end of the cylinder than the position that the same projection assumes closer to the base of the rib. The corrugations are of sufiicient height and depth so that they will actupon laundry sliding off the rib to urge the laundry to move in a for ward direction toward the outlet end of the container. The angle of inclination of the corrugations is such that itwill cause a forward movement of the laundry, as itfslides with the corrugations, to cause an advancement of /2 inch to 3 inches toward the outlet end of the container. It is to be understood that in'place of forming corrug'ations in the rib that projections attached to or forming part of the rib may also be employed to function in the same manner.

The direction of movement of laundry, as shown in Figure 1, is iridicatedby the arrow at the left hand opening ofthe cylinder. In other words, the lower or left hand" end of the cylinder is the inlet end of the washing machine, and the right hand end or elevatedportion of the cylinder is the outlet end. 1

At the inlet end 'otthe cylinder is a Wall 22 forming a partial enclosure of the inlet end and constituting an opening 23 which is of a smaller diameter than the principal diameter of the cylinder. Due tothe partially enclosing wall 22 and the angle of inclination of the cylinder, a bank of water 24 is retained in the cylinder to provide a water level 25 which extends from the opening 23 to or near the outlet opening of the cylinder. A trough 26 and drain 2'! provide means for collecting and disposing of the overflow of water from the inlet opening 23.

Entering the outlet end of the cylinder 4 is a conduit 28 for supplying hot water during the washing operation. One or more nozzles 29 disposed along the length of the cylinder directs a spray of hot water within'the container at locations near the outlet end of the cylinder. At the inlet end of the container is a conduit 30 and nozzle 3i adapted forintroducing a detergent solution into the. container.

In the operation of the continuous washing machine the container is rotated continuously. The hot water and detergent. solution are permitted-to flow and laundry is introduced intermittently into the inlet'end of the container. As the cylinder rotates, the rib I9 picks up laundry 32 to an elevated position, as shown in Figure 2. When the laundry reaches such a position it slides from the rib l9 and drops to the bottom of the container. As the laundry slides along the rib IS the projections 01 corrugations 2i which, because of their angularly disposed position, move the laundry in small increments to an advanced position toward the outlet end. This angle of inclination is such that the laundry is advanced from inch to 3 inches toward the outlet end. Therefore, each time laundry slides from the rib I 9 it moves forward progressively until it is finally discharged from the container.

4% This continuousl intermittent dropping action gives each piece of laundry individual and uniform treatment resulting in maximum cleaning efiiciency for each piece of laundry,

Since hot Water is being introduced continuously within the container, the direction of flow of water 24 within the container is toward the inlet end where the water runs out and into a trough 26. This continuous movement of water removes the soil and scum completely out of the container and allows the laundry to move progressively toward clean water until a direct rinsing effect takes place at the region of the outlet end of the container. This cycle of operation is carried on continuously and progressively until individual articles of laundry drop progressively out of the outlet end of the container.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, means are provided as a substitute for the rib [9. This means constitutes a bar or strip 33 which extends throughout the length of the cylinder 4 and is fastened to the inner wall of the cylinder. A plurality of bars or rods 34 extend from and are attached to the strip 33. The bars are spaced sufiiciently close to prevent ordinary pieces of laundry from dropping therethrough. Preferably, these rods should be spaced a distance of from 1 inch to 3 inches apart. The length of th bars are equal to the width of the rib l9 as heretofore described, and the angular position of the rods 3d are also disposed at an angle similar to that described in connection with the corrugations or projections 21. This modified form of rib functions in all respects in substantially the same manner as that described in connection with the rib I9.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I have provided a unique and practical commercial laundry washing apparatus of the continuous type which is conducive to greater cleanliness of laundry, in combination with increased efliciency and greater output.

While I have shown and described one form of my invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of obvious modifications all of which I contemplate within the spirit of my invention and as appearing in the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, means for rotating the sleeve, a member extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve and projecting radially inward of the sleeve a. distance between one-eight to one-third of the diameter of the sleeve, and a pluralit of projections extending angularly of the member wherein each projection at its radially innermost position lies closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than that portion of the projection that lies closer to the wall of the sleeve the extent of the angular disposition of the projections being such that laundry sliding off and dropped from the member will advance the laundry toward the outlet end a distance of the order of at least one-half inch.

2. A Washing machine comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, means for rotating the sleeve, a member parallel to the axis of the sleeve extending along the length of the inner wall of the sleeve and projecting radially inward of the sleeve, and a plurality of projections extending angularly of the member wherein each projection at its radially innermost position lies closer to the outlet end of the sleeve than that portion of the projection that lies closer to the Wall of the sleeve.

RAYMOND F. TERNES. Number 569,673 REFERENCES CITED 649,152 837,686 The following references are of record in the 2,300,690 file of this patent: 2,312,657

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Roach Oct. 20, 1896 Annadale May 8, 1900 Klug Dec. 4, 1906 Neuman Nov. 3, 1942 Locke Mar. 2, 1943 

